Computer problem

burdette

We have P3 that is a few years old. We got a new Canon printer last year. I've had myriad problems with this PC... have had to reload Windows (98) several times. Just an idea about this thing.. we have a CD/DVD drive (D:), and a burner (E:). When you boot up, what the system recognizes .. i.e what is available for you to use.. can be only the C:, usually C and D, and once in awhile, rarely, E: actually shows up. Usually, the machine is completely oblivious to the presence of the burner.

So... from some applications, we can print just fine. From other applications, we get an error message that says the printer isn't hooked up properly, i.e. won't print, check the cable. I've unloaded and reloaded the printer software. We also have a Canon digital camera.. unloaded and loaded that software over and over.

Before I go through the Win98 reload AGAIN, which may or may not help... any ideas. I can't find anywhere where the printer is supposedly connected to a different port.. no other printers connected. I did once have the printer show up twice, and that may explain it if some applications are trying to send to this phantom printer.. but I think I got rid of the duplicate.. at least I don't have duplicate icons... any suggestions besides the trash?

Loud & Clear

BIOS up to date? At startup you should see both of your write/rewrite drives, every time, not just when it feels like it.

It almost sounds like your boot process is too fast for your BIOS; this can be delayed in setup. Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree, but it's odd that sometimes boot messages see your devices, and sometimes they don't. How old is your CMOS battery? Just some random thoughts.

Oh, you got any problems in device manager?

RuSsMaN

I've seen a couple pc's on a warm boot, hang on detecting/displaying (depending on cmos config) some CD/CDR drives.

However, ALL worked fine on a cold boot, every single time.

As far as the printing issues, any error msgs? Just won't print? Does it persist with one or more programs?

Cheers,
Rooster

HBombToo

What is the difference between warm and cold boot?

The Twin is confused:rolleyes:

RuSsMaN

Warm, power on 'reset' or 'shut down - restart'

Cold, power off, power on

Cheers,
Rooster

HBombToo

Windows 98 sucks ****. Can the computer handle an upgrade to at least NT or 2000? I hated 98!

Twin is catching on:D

RuSsMaN

I'm sure some will disagree, but I've found 98se (second edition), all patched up, to be a very stable, and forgiving operating system for most casual home users.

NT 4.0 and Win2k add greater stability, and security if needed, but are also easier for the typical end user to 'fubar'.

XP, seems like a great OS, needs another 6 months to get more patches/updates released, get the bugs worked out.

ME, faggettaboutit.

Cheers,
Rooster

Loud & Clear

Try a 6 second delay of the hard disk boot in your BIOS, it may not fix your problem but it won't hurt.

Your printer and camera both USB devices? If so, are they direct to the computer, or are they hubbed externally?

Agree with Russ on 98SE, I still run it without problems in a dual-boot with XP. Of course they are both monitored with the Windows Update Utility.

burdette

There was an error printing to LPT1: for the printer ( Canon S520). The printer is not ready. Make sure it is ready and online. To continue printing, click Retry. Windows will automatically retry after 5 seconds.


That is the error message I get, for example, if I try to print from Word or Excel. Same error message from some other applications. BUT.. the printer is on, connected properly, etc. I know this because we can print from other applications. Another box, that comes after the error message, has a heading that says LPT1 - Canon S520, says Printer not responding.


I know we've printed SOMETHING.. but I can't seem to find an application that WILL print right now. Trying to print this Polk page didn't work. So, maybe we should just assume that this is a problem across the board. The printer is hooked up, it is on, it is connected. It will print the test page. I don't know how to check to see if the printer and the computer will communicate.

As far as the BIOS and all that... I really don't **** around with that stuff too much. I've reloaded Windows 98. I've removed and reloaded the printer software. From the experience we've had and the checking I did, I first thought we had a bad cable, but I know we have printed something, because I abandoned the bad cable idea. Sorry I can't find the application that printed.

This computer has had problems for awhile. Absolutely it sometimes recognizes the DVD drive and the burner.. rarely the burner, usually the DVD. We have a scanner that worked perfectly before we got this new printer. We haven't been able to use the scanner since we got the new printer. The scanner software gives us an error message with about 8 things to check, and they are ALL fine.

Damn thing. Honestly... it needs to be chucked into our woods and I need a new Dell.

dorokusai

I agree with Russman, 98se is a very solid platform. Win Me can blow me...and XP is what I use now, and have been quite happy.

Burdette - It could be so many little things its almost not worth worrying about. I had a couple of those issues, and it turned out to be a bad HDD....well it was on its way out the door. BIOS is so important, many people forget about it.

This is just a suggestion. I would first get your manufacturer list set up...who makes what for your computer, and find the latest drivers for them, drop them on floppy. Get the latest BIOS flash update, and drop that on a floppy. Then do a clean reformat, with Win98....completely erase the HDD choice is what I mean. Flash your BIOS first, make sure you know how. When BIOS is flashed, enter BIOS from first boot, and configure your computer from there. BIOS is vital to everything working right. When you get back to normal, start loading those drivers, reboot after each one is successful. Then spend all night getting the WIndows Update files installed. DO not load any games or extraneous software until it boots and shutsdown like a normal computer.

I have used this a a resource for MIcrosoft help in the past, www.dslreports.com , they have a large and very active forum.

Good luck.

Loud & Clear

I'd use device manager to remove the camera from the profile. You may find that your printer works all of the sudden. Are neither of these devices connected via USB?

burdette

Originally posted by dorokusai
It could be so many little things its almost not worth worrying about. I had a couple of those issues, and it turned out to be a bad HDD....well it was on its way out the door. BIOS is so important, many people forget about it.

This is just a suggestion. I would first get your manufacturer list set up...who makes what for your computer, and find the latest drivers for them, drop them on floppy. Get the latest BIOS flash update, and drop that on a flop....

dorodusai.. thanks. It IS worth worrying about because we can't print. We home school, my wife is a Le Leche League leader, we found info today on a Cinderella Party for my daughter's 6th birthday on Monday, etc etc etc. We need to be able to print.

As for the other stuff.. yes, I can understand it, I can teach myself and work through it... BUT.. my first reaction is... did you ever see the Far Side cartoon where the dog owner is saying "Bad dog Trixie, stay off the couch, Trixie, you are a bad dog..." and it shows what the dog hears which is "blah blah blah Trixie, blah blah blah Trixie, blah blah blah..."

I'll print off your post and go through those steps. I think I'll try a reload of Win98 first before I completely erase the HD. I've done that complete wipe before... but with our burner down, I can't save anything this time. And trying to save it on floppy... geez... it'd be like trying to record the LOTR DVD on 8-track.

Thanks everyone. I'm not closing this out.. if you have more suggestions, please post. I'm just REALLY tired of this computer. Gateway sucks the big winky.

Edit: forgot.. as far as BIOS and all that... it is either the original or whatever happens when I use the Gateway system disk. I'm actually angry at myself for not keeping up and learning more about this stuff through the years. I have the technology, I can rebuild me... but I haven't done it. But I can design a bass reflex enclosure if you want! Will that help?????

dorokusai

Burdette - I didn't mean the comment about not being worth it like that....just that you WILL drive yourself crazy trying to figure it out. I am all for the clean slate approach, which is why I went further. I apologize if I have offended you. Computers are such funny creatures, it could be something simple. Check out that forum, they really are more specific about things than perhaps I was.

A option for printing would be to do a buy/return thing at CC or BB for now....I have used that morally biased method before

Shizelbs

I am going to go ahead and slightly disagree with Russ, if I read him right. I find XP to be far more stable than 98SE was for me. 98se was what I consider stable enough, but XP has been incredible for me as far as stability goes.

HBombToo

Originally posted by Shizelbs
I am going to go ahead and slightly disagree with Russ, if I read him right. I find XP to be far more stable than 98SE was for me. 98se was what I consider stable enough, but XP has been incredible for me as far as stability goes.

cool but can his computer handle the load?

Dumb Twin

BTW... what is the delay associated with a router?

dorokusai

I use XP now Shizelbs, and really like it also. Early XP was a nightmare, especially for those of us had every application not support it....frustrating to DL drivers and patches for ALL your proggies.

Delay in wired routers is nominal Henry, wireless routers, like LinkSys are very good. They work very well in most applications.

burdette

Originally posted by dorokusai
I apologize if I have offended you.

Hey, not even an issue. Thanks for the thought and the apology, but absolutely not relevant or necessary.

If I could get the burner working, I'd be more apt to wipe clean.

Timing may be at work here... my wife is babysitting for a friend next Tuesday who has to go StL for an appointment. The woman is now a stay-at-home mom, but she used to make her living working on computers. Her husband still does. In fact, I took our computer to their house 2 years ago for a fix, and it came back with that burner installed, free of charge. They had like 5 sitting around. I sense a little bartering here on some software work...

faster100

Ive been building and tinkering with computers for about 5-6 years easy, one thing i learned, No one program, OS, game or software reacts the same as another persons.. far as gateway.. Their nice, Dell is nice, any computer can work great.. Actually Gateway in my opinion is one of the better makers because the custom built to suit per order and use individual parts.. the big names like HP, compaq and dell use integrated parts for the most part, on-board everything.. Computers get old and hard drives get full and corrupt,,, after years of softeware, programs,changes they just get tired and quirky..

Far as operating systems are concerned... For home win 98se is very stable when setup correctly, I just moved to XP myself, even more stable(with newer hardware is better though) NT, 2000, those are more business minded and don't work well with games and home user setups.. stable they are.. meant for business settings.. stay with 98, ME, or xp.. BUT don't upgrade to anything whilst having problems with 98.. you will compound the problem.. I have 3 computers in my house. 2 with xp and one with me.. they all work fine and network through a D-Link wired router via DSL, no problems..


as for your problems, If your not sure about bios flashing, skip it.. what wasnt mentioned was, if after you start the Flash process.. you don't have the right file to update, or you reset the pc, or the power go's out(ok this is a stretch) It will ruin the rom chip, leaving the motherboard worthless.. Most bios flashes generally don't effect software issues.. like printers not working,

Far as formating, if your like me.. i have years of stuff on my HD.. I partition my drives with C: E: at least.. so you can format C: that has windows on it and leave your data intact.. so its not always a option to format.. Go to the printer makers website and get the latest software, if they use USB (universal serial bus) go to the motherboard makers website, or the chipset maker, Ie: like via or intel... and get a USB driver update.. uninstall the printer, scanner, and what ever else doesnt work.. reinstall.. if you recentyly re-installed windows.. always re-install all your software even if its still in there.. your system will need to be able to reconize the drivers and stuff. If you need more help with this e-mail me, or i'll give you my number to call.. I don't know everything and over the phone or e-mail is harder then in person but i can try and help if you want.. Good luck

burdette

Thanks for the help and information. I've got some things to try, FINALLY got a reply from a real person at Canon. I did reload Win98 last night without wiping the drive, didn't help. Now, I can't find any apps that print.. not that none do, just can't find them. We'll see.

Thanks again.

faster100

just be sure after that 98 re-install, install all the drivers for the applications you use, even if there still installed.. just overwrite them when it asks..

if that doesnt fix it, you have a larger problem, Its most likely not the printer itself. Corrupt hard drive, bad printer port, or usb drivers,